IGNN: Main State Page Press Release

CHICAGO – Twenty-six on-the-spot job offers were made at this week’s Hiring Our Heroes event in Chicago. The U.S. Chamber of Commerce, Illinois Department of Veterans Affairs (IDVA) and Illinois Department of Employment Security (IDES) were primary sponsors. This success illustrates how well the state’s hiring portal, Illinoisjoblink.com, links employers with qualified workers to grow our economy.

IDES’ modernized pre-registration efforts were key to the event’s success. The three organizations registered employers to attend and notified Veterans of the opportunities. Armed with job descriptions and the Veterans’ resumes, IDES leveraged itsIllinoisjoblink.com help-wanted hiring website to pre-match worker resumes with employer openings. The coordination allowed 87 on-site interviews at the event, which occurred at the University of Chicago, Ida Noyes Hall, 1212 East 59th Street.

The non-profit Hiring Event for Veterans also was sponsored by the Robert R. McCormick Foundation, which is dedicated to increasing the number of Veterans working in the philanthropic and non-profit employment sector. Additionally, Fifty-two attendees spent time at the employment workshop aimed at helping Veterans and transitioning service members leverage their military experience to achieve civilian career goals.

The IDVA is a nationally recognized leader in Veterans' issues and support. As a state agency, it is dedicated to empowering Veterans, as well as their dependents and survivors, to thrive. The IDVA helps Veterans navigate the complex federal Veteran support system and assists them in obtaining benefits by providing long term health care for eligible Veterans at four Veterans’ Homes and by working with other government agencies and non-profits to help Veterans address education, mental health, housing, employment, and other challenges. For more information or to contact the IDVA about Veteran issues, please visit www.veterans.illinois.gov or call (800) 437-9824.

Veterans are sought-after employees for non-profits and charities due to their service training, soft skills and experiences which include respect for authority, embracing responsibility and success in a team-based environment. Veterans and service members also have advanced training in fields ranging from technology and manufacturing to construction and logistics.

A state income tax credit of up to $5,000 is available to employers for each qualified Veteran they hire. Employers also might qualify for a federal tax credit of up to $9,600 through the Work Opportunity Tax Credit.

More than 160,000 help-wanted ads are on Illinoisjoblink.com, which also features a self-guided resume building tool. Once a resume is completed, the tool automatically will find help-wanted ads that match the individual’s skills. This keyword matching technology increases the likelihood of a successful new hire and compares favorably to private efforts that cost hundreds of dollars for a single advertisement. No-cost HR recruitment services also are at (877) 342-7533.